Technology Acquisition
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Technology Acquisition. Norm Thorpe General Motors Corporation April 22, 2002. Gov’t Funded R&D Over Time. Pre-World War II Air Corps Act of 1926 World War II Manhattan Project Post World War II (Cold War) National Labs, NASA, DARPA Post Cold War Searching for solutions.
Technology Acquisition
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Technology Acquisition Norm Thorpe General Motors Corporation April 22, 2002
Gov’t Funded R&D Over Time • Pre-World War II • Air Corps Act of 1926 • World War II • Manhattan Project • Post World War II (Cold War) • National Labs, NASA, DARPA • Post Cold War • Searching for solutions
Commercial R&D over Time: GMC • Technology Driving Market Success • Electric Starting/Lighting/Ignition • Interchangeable Parts • All steel bodies • Automatic Transmission • Diesel Electric Locomotive • 1939 World’s Fair: Futurama
GMC R&D, cont • Firebirds: gas turbine cars • Commercial gas turbine Class 8 trucks • Patriot Missile Gen sets • Electric Vehicles and Advanced Batteries • Fuel Cell Vehicles • Catalytic Converters • Light Weight Structures • Crash Test Dummies
Institutional R&D Model • Large free standing research institutions • Academic outlook • Metrics: papers published, patents obtained • Prestige factors, cadre of professionals • Cost center approach • high costs typically buried by allocation over multiple business units • Vertical integration: Corp. self sufficiency
Commercial R&D in C 21 • Large institutional R&D labs gone • or greatly reduced • Alternate solutions: • “leverage” • at best: cost share • worst case: dilution of goals/results • transfer to suppliers • contract out • move expense down supply chain
GM Approach to R&D • Advanced Technology Work [ATW] • Science Lab • Innovation Programs • WWP/Purchased R&D/LOTM purchasing • Single Mission Challenge Teams • Product Engineering Centers • Collaborative Labs • USCAR
R&D Acquisition Methods Continuum • Purchase Order • Modified P.O.s: • Non evaluation commitments • IP flexibility • Joint R&D Agreements • Teaming Agreements • Equity Relationships
Purchased R&D and Engineering Services • Not joint R&D • Not difficult or unusual • unless buyer is a government agency! • Engineering/R&D in Source Selection • price/pay methodology • follows SOW • negotiated at market rates
Collaborative Labs • Universities • Institutions • Equity Partners • Automotive OEM Alliance Partners • Joint R&D Partner Companies
Joint R&D Agreements: Non-Standard ! • Embedded within larger relationships • Teaming Agreements • Equity Investments • Strategic Alliances • Consortia • Umbrella/Master agreements • Free standing projects • Walk before running?
Joint R&D Agreements: Variable Factors • Who is paying? Is there cost sharing? • Who is bringing IP? Other resources? • What is the pre-existing relationship? • What future relationship is expected? • Are there anti-trust issues? • Can program results be shared/allocated? • Is there a need for leadership by one party?
Joint R&D Agreement: Content • Statement of Purpose • Funding Agreements • Program Management Process • Competition Issues, if any • Confidentiality/Intellectual Property • SOW w/Payment Milestones, Deliverables • Legaleze
Joint R&D: Issues (Usual Suspects) • Confidentiality/Non-Confidentiality • Ownership/control/allocation of program IP • Commercialization issues • allocation of upside • access to/compensation for background IP • free riding competitors
Conclusion • Between companies, pricing issues are important as they effect budget, but are rarely controversial or difficult • Commercialization issues which are so difficult for collaborating companies, should be no-brainers for Gov’t/Corp • But only if gov’t negotiators are competent and empowered
And a modest proposal: • Melt down R&D Acquisition regs • Repour with goal of permitting user of new products/technologies to buy what is needed on terms necessary to get it • enforce business discipline by holding buyers accountable for success of their deals • de-emphasize pricing issues, focussing efforts on real issues in negotiation